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/ 7 May 2008

Tension in Egypt clouds outlook for succession

Social tensions in Egypt over the past year have eroded overwhelming expectations that Gamal Mubarak will succeed his father President Hosni Mubarak at the helm of the most populous Arab country. An unprecedented wave of labour strikes and public anger over high prices and poor wages, may eventually drive the main pillars of the ruling elite to look into other scenarios.

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/ 16 January 2008

Germany’s hotels bar neo-Nazis

Late last year a hotel in Dresden sent an unambiguous message to two prospective neo-Nazi guests — please do not come. "Since I would not know how to encourage my staff to greet you or serve you, I beg you to cancel your stay," Johannes Lohmeyer, manager of a Holiday Inn in the picturesque east German city, wrote to the two men.

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/ 5 November 2007

Egypt ruling party gives secretary general new term

Egypt’s ruling party gave ageing politician Safwat el-Sherif another term as party secretary general on Monday, ending speculation that President Hosni Mubarak’s son Gamal might take that position. Sherif (73) has been near the top of the National Democratic Party (NDP) since its foundation in 1977 and has been secretary general since 2002.

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/ 29 October 2007

Egypt to build nuclear power stations

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on Monday his country will launch a programme to build several civilian nuclear power stations. He did not say when the government would start building the stations but added Egypt would cooperate with the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency.

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/ 15 September 2007

‘Press freedom does not exist’ in Egypt

Rights groups on Saturday accused Egypt of curbing press freedom after a Cairo court this week sentenced four editors each to one year in prison for criticising the president. ”Egypt continues to imprison journalists and editors who publish stories critical of President Hosni Mubarak and other high officials,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement.